Sperm transfer method

ABSTRACT

Animal sperm is inserted into geletin capules and freeze-sealed with a plug of felt-like material extending across the open end portion of each capsule, the peripheral portion of each plug extending slightly beyond the external wall of the capsule. Prior to sealing, each plug is wetted at its under surface with a sterile liquid and the seal is obtained by freezing. Each plug has a ferromagnetic coat on its upper surface. The capsules are placed in serial array, in a storage tube having a closed end. A ferromagnetic cap having a clip extending therefrom is placed on and into the open end of the tube with the clip extending thereinto and bearing against the internal wall thereof, in which condition the capsules are placed in a freezer-container. In use, a tube is removed from the container and a rod having a permanent magnet at one end is used to remove the cap and also to remove a capsule therefrom. The rod and capsule are then placed in a pipette having an open end and a radially inwardly extending flange providing a smaller opening at the other end thereof. The pipette is inserted into a female animal and the capsule is moved by, said flange. When body heat melts the liquid, the pipette, rod and closure are withdrawn from the animal. The free surface of the coat may be labeled with significant indicia.

Bite States atent Merkt et al. 1 Jan. 23, 1973 SPERM TRANSFER METHOD [57ABSTRACT [72] Inventors: Hans Merkt, 1m Gehage Animal sperm is insertedinto geletin capules and Isernhagen, Germany; Joachim Hannig,Universidad de Chile, Santiago,

Chile [22] Filed: July 1, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 51,484

[52] US. Cl ..128/264, 128/235 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6ld 07/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..l28/l.3, 1.4, 260, 261, 264

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,725 4/1918 Dunn..128/264 2,516,846 8/1950 Betz 128/264 2,572,155 10/1951 Hoyt 128/260 X2,709,436 5/1955 Lynn ..128/261 2,747,574 5/1956 De Lorenzo ..128/2613,297,031 l/1967 Bray ..128/264 Primary Examiner--Joseph S. ReichAttorney-Richards & Geier freeze-sealed with a plug of felt-likematerial extending across the open end portion of each capsule, theperipheral portion of each plug extending slightly beyond the externalwall of the capsule. Prior to sealing, each plug is wetted at its undersurface with a sterile liquid and the seal is obtained by freezing. Eachplug has a ferromagnetic coat on its upper surface. The capsules areplaced in serial array, in a storage tube having a closed end. Aferromagnetic cap having a clip extending therefrom is placed on andinto the open end of the tube with the clip extending thereinto andbearing against the internal wall thereof, in which condition thecapsules are placed in a freezer-container. In use, a tube is removedfrom the container and a rod having a permanent magnet at one end isused to remove the cap and also to remove a capsule therefrom. The rodand capsule are then placed in a pipette having an open end and aradially inwardly ex tending flange providing a smaller opening at theother end thereof. The pipette is inserted into a female animal and thecapsule is moved by, said flange. When body heat melts the liquid, thepipette, rod and closure are withdrawn from the animal. The free surfaceof the coat may be labeled with significant indicia.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 3 I975 s Mar -kiacb INVENTORQM J- fiqk T RNEX-J- SPERM TRANSFER METHOD DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a new and improved method ofinseminating domestic animals, in particular cattle, by using a pipettemade of synthetic material for applying capsules filled with deep-frozensperm.

Hitherto, the sperm filled capsules taken by means of a pincette or apair of pincers from a deep-freeze storage container were placed intothe synthetic pipette consisting of a long thin tube to be introducedinto the body of the animal. Most of the capsules made of gelantine are,due to their smoothness, hard to get hold of and drop often to the floorwhen transferred from the storage container into the synthetic pipette;they become thus infected and contaminated or must be discarded onaccount of the impurities that have collected thereon. This constitutesa handicap in negatively affecting the performance and the results ofthe artificial insemination. Additionally, the loss of any apportionedquantity of sperm of high quality donator stock constitutes aconsiderable financial drawback.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anew and improved method of inseminating cattle or other domestic animalsby applying capsules filled with deep-frozen sperm to the animal body bymeans of a synthetic pipette which method assuredly overcomes theaforementioned disadvantages, and whereby desirable preconditions areestablished for guaranteeing the success of the artificial insemination.

According to the present invention several capsules which have beenfilled with deep-frozen sperm and are sealed by a plug provided with aferro-magnetic coat, are stored one above another in a tube made ofsynthetic material, which tube is inserted into a deepfreeze storagecontainer. In order to apply a capsule to the animal, the individualcapsules are taken from the synthetic tube or tubelet by means of a rodon which end there is mounted a permanent magnet. Then they are insertedinto a synthetic pipette to be introduced into the female animal.

By this new method the capsules containing the sperm are taken from thestorage container only by means of the adhesive force exerted by thepermanent magnet attached to one end of the rod. Also by this magneticrod the capsules are inserted into the synthetic pipette and applied bymeans of said same rod from the pipette into the body of the animal.Therefore the capsules will remain entirely uncontaminated. This couldnot always be obtained with prior art methods, even when using thegreatest precaution.

The ferro-magnetic coat is preferably applied on a plug made of felt. Itis recommended to wet said felt plug with a sterile liquid and tomaintain it on the aperture of the capsule by means of a freezingprocess, whereby it congeals thereon because the capsule contentsthemselves undergo deep-freezing. This solidification due to congelationprovides the advantage that maintenance and sealing of the capsule isachieved without taking recourse to glues or other substances whichmight adversely alfect the sperm. The felt plug fixedly secured to theopening of the capsule by congealing the liquid is dislodged, after thecapsule has been applied to the animal, on account of the warmthemanating from the body of the animal. Besides, the

felt plug closes the capsule so securely that neither harmful matter orgerms can enter from the storage container into the capsule nor cansperm leave the capsule and adhere to other capsules.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention the plugmade preferably of felt or similar material is constructed such that itfunctions as a piston transferring the pressure into the pipette, thusadvancing the capsule. Since the plug completely obturates the lumen ofthe pipette, it also prevents at the same time that the sperm containedin the capsule or that the female animal itself, receiving said sperm,is contaminated or infected. Thus, the important advantage will obtainthat the rod carrying the magnet need not be desinfected in theintervening time.

To permit the individual capsules to be taken in a simple manner fromthe synthetic tubelets serving as storage it is preferable to providesaid tubelet with a closing ferro-magnetic cover which can be lifted offeasily by the magnet of the rod. A particularly simple and inexpensivecover of the storage tubelet is achieved if a customary sample bag clipmade of ferro-magnetic material, e.g. brassed sheet metal, is used ascover; both legs thereof press with a given amount of tension againstthe inner wall of the storage tubelet.

It is possible to print on the ferromagnetic coat of the obturating plugindications to identify each individual sperm capsule in a simple andclear way or to attach a respective label to said coat. Such indicationsare still readable after completion of the insemination process.

The invention is illustrated and further explained in connection withthe appended drawings showing an embodiment for putting into operationthe method according to the invention. In the drawings FIG. 1 is alongitudinal section of a capsule at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a rod carrying a permanent magnet shownin section;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a storage tube made of syntheticmaterial, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a pipette made of synthetic material.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings a capsule 1 containing thedeep-frozen sperm is made of gelantine or similar material and is closedby a cylindrical plug 2 preferably made of felt or comparable material.The plug 2 is wetted with a sterile liquid, e.g. a sperm diluent andsimply held in position on the capsule aperture by a freezing processsuch that no glues or similar substances are required, which mightadversely affect the sperm. On the upper side of the cylindrical plug 2there is applied a ferro-magnetic coat 3 consisting of a thin ironsheet. On its surface the iron sheet 3 carries a print 4 withindications of control data, numbers or the like.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the individual capsules 1filled with sperm are placed one above another in a small storage tube 5made e.g. of synthetic material, which tube is positioned in a containerfilled with freezing media such as liquid nitrogen (not shown in thedrawings). The storage tube 5 is sealed by means of a cover 6 for whicha clip customarily employed for closing sample bags or the like is used,both legs 7 of which press with a certain amount of tension against theinner wall of the storage tube 5. Sample bag clips of this type arecustomarily made of brassed iron sheet, they are, therefore,ferromagnetic. The pressure of the legs 7 of the clip against the innerwalls of the tube is sufficiently light, so that the magnet 9 located atthe end of the rod 8 can easily overcome this pressure and raise thecover 6 from the tube 5.

For inserting the sealed capsules 1 filled with sperm into the storagetube 5 as well as for retrieving them therefrom and placing saidcapsules into a pipette 11, shown in FIG. 4, use is made of a rod 8,illustrated in FIG. 2, which rod carries on one of its ends a smallpermanent magnet 9 and on its other end a handle 10.

The pipette 11 is made from synthetic or plastic material and has alength which is necessary for the inseminating process. The upper end isprovided with a funnel-shaped widening 12, by which the insertion of thecapsules 1 is facilitated. At the lower end of the pipette l 1 there isan inwardly directed flange 13 which is of such size that it permits thepassage of the capsule 1 while serving as a stop for the plug 2.

For the insemination process there is first opened the storage tube 5 bymeans of the rod 8, by having the permanent magnet 9 remove the cover 6from the aperture of the storage tube 5. After disengaging the cover 6from the magnet 9 the rod 8 is introduced into the storage tube 5 in amanner that the ferro-magnetic coat 3 of the uppermost capsule 1 adheresto the permanent magnet 9. When lifting the rod 8 the capsule 1 is alsolifted out in order to be introduced into the pipette l 1.

The capsule 1 is securely guided by adhering to the magnet 9 attached tothe rod 8 when introduced into the pipette due to the fact that thecylindrical felt plug 2 has a diameter such that it may be caused toslide within and through the pipette similar to a piston. By advancingthe rod 8 the capsule l is moved to a radially inwardly directed flangeas shown in FIG. 4, at the lower end of pipette 11 and after theintroduction of said pipette 11 into the female animal the sperm capsulel is deposited, whereas the felt plug 2 is retained in the pipette 11 bythe flange. Due to the body heat of the animal the capsule 1 is meltedand the rod 8 with the permanent magnet 9 can be moved to a positionmost suitable for the insemination. The capsule l is made of a very fineand thin gelatine mass, so that it is melted by the body heat of theanimal as quickly as the frozen sterile liquid with which the plug 2 issaturated. The short melting time depends obviously on the actual bodyheat which is variable. Practical experimentation has shown that thisprocedure is fully effective. Due to the inner flange 13 of the pipette11 the plug 2 is retained in the pipette and can be retrieved, as thecase may be, from said pipette for examining and verifying theindicatings 4 of the plug 2.

By using magnetic forces in the manner described the capsules containingdeep-frozen sperm are safely inserted to the storage tube 5 and to thepipette 11 as well as applied to the animal without any manual contactof the operator. Therefore important advantages are achieved by thepresent invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of those explained; change being made as regard the methodherein disclosed, provided the step or steps stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated steps are:

l. A sperm transfer method, comprising the steps of inserting sperm intocapsules sealing the capsule with a plug provided with a ferromagneticcoat, gathering a plurality of said capsules in a storage tube,inserting said storage tube into a container for extremely lowtemperatures, transferring said storage tube to another location,introducing into said storage tube a rod upon an end of which is mounteda permanent magnet, drawing capsules singly from said storage tube andinserting each capsule into pipette by said magnet, introducing saidpipette into female animal and discharging a capsule from said pipetteby said rod.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising wetting the plug beforesealing the filled capsule with a liquid, and then cooling the storagetube containing a plurality of said capsules in a deep-freezing-process,whereby said plug is tightly frozen on to said capsule.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising guiding the plug of saidcapsule like a piston in said pipette.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising closing the storage tubeafter receiving a plurality of capsules by a ferromagnetic cover.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising closing the storage tubefilled with said capsules by a bag clip.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising attaching indications toidentify each individual sperm on the ferromagnetic coat of the plugs ofthe single capsules.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising wetting the plug beforesealing the filled capsule with a liquid, and then cooling the storagetube containing a plurality of said capsules in a deep-freezing-process,whereby said plug is tightly frozen on to said capsule.
 3. A methodaccording to claim 1, comprising guiding the plug of said capsule like apiston in said pipette.
 4. A method according to claim 1, comprisingclosing the storage tube after receiving a plurality of capsules by aferromagnetic cover.
 5. A method according to claim 1, comprisingclosing the storage tube filled with said capsules by a bag clip.
 6. Amethod according to claim 1, comprising attaching indications toidentify each individual sperm on the ferromagnetic coat of the plugs ofthe single capsules.